Blogs from Kapit, Sarawak, Malaysia, Asia

Taking the boat ride up the Batang Rejang, it was indeed 3h in a "cramped space shuttle", as described by LP, before I arrived in the small riverside town of Kapit. Even the "business class" seat that I took that costs 5 ringgit more barely had enough space for my backpack, which I had to lay along the narrow aisle. The boat really did seem narrower and lower than usual, but that seemed to be the generic type used to navigate the river system here. I'd made the trip here, even though it's a detour, because I'd half-thought I might pay a visit to a nearby traditional Iban longhouse. Kapit is supposed one of the better places from which to organise such a tour. But I say "half-thought" because I'd read that it could be quite ... read more

Hello, This post will be a small one about Sibu, which is the second biggest city of Sarawak (after Kutching). History first: the development of this town started in the beginning of the 20th century with the arrival of a group of Methodist (part of the protestant religion) Chinese trying to escape persecution in China. The town was destroyed twice: once in 1928 by a fire and the second time during the WW2, but each time the inhabitants rebuild the town and began everything all over again. Now the town continue to grow thanks to the strategic importance of the major port on the Rejang River. The town is a really nice place to be due mainly by the atmosphere of its markets. In the central market open during the day, you can find anything you ... read more

As I arrived at the longhouse that would be my home for the next four days after taking a half hour drive, trying not to fall down a steep not very well formed path with my backpack and day pack, a half hour trip down the river then a trek up a very steep slippery dirt path, it was like stepping back a thousand years to very basic living. The toilet was the only room in the house with three walls and a door which was a wooded room in the kitchen consisting of a hole in the floor, a tap and a bucket to flush. The bathroom was a larger room with a fish pond, tree branches as washing lines, a tap and a bucket with a scoop ie a sponge bath. Upstairs was the ... read more

Apparently to experiance the "real Borneo" you need to go and stay in a longhouse. With this in mind we headed up the Batang Rejang river in search of the Iban people whose hospitality is legendary. Unfortunately no one had informed our hosts of their legendary hospitality and we ended up getting stuck for two very uncomfortable nights as unwelcome guests in a traditional longhouse. A longhouse is essentially a high rise but instead of housing 50 families vertically they house them horizontally - space is not a premium here. While our hosts ate rice, buttered bread and drank coffee, Tom and I were left to eat on the floor with dry crackers. We got the message loud and clear but with no public transport and no phone signal we were stuck where we were until ... read more

Geo: 1.81244, 113.582Salut tout le mondeNous allons bien. Aujourd'hui le theme etait l'eau. Nous avons fait du bateau toute la journee. De Kuching nous avons pris un bateau express. Rapide mais cela nous a pris tout de meme 5 heures. Il a plu par moment, nous devions entrer sous le toit sinon . . . On s'est fait venter toute la journee. 2 heures en mer de chine. Petite vague mais le bateau balancait pas mal. Puis la deuxieme partie de Sibu a Kapit un autre 3 heures dans un genre de grosse chaloupe avec un toit et en gros metal. Presqu'un sous marin. La coque etait aura de l'eau. Nous avons vue le paysage par un petite fenetre. La riviere, les longues houses (maison utiliser ici, par toute la tribu . . enfin village car ... read more